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Stoessel A, Groysbeck N, Guyot L, Barret L, Nominé Y, Nguekeu-Zebaze L, Bender A, Voilquin L, Lutz T, Pallaoro N, Blocat M, Deville C, Masson M, Zuber G, Chatton B, Donzeau M. Modular Conjugation of a Potent Anti-HER2 Immunotoxin Using Coassociating Peptides. Bioconjug Chem 2020; 31:2421-2430. [PMID: 32996763 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Immunotoxins are emerging candidates for cancer therapeutics. These biomolecules consist of a cell-targeting protein combined to a polypeptide toxin. Associations of both entities can be achieved either chemically by covalent bonds or genetically creating fusion proteins. However, chemical agents can affect the activity and/or stability of the conjugate proteins, and additional purification steps are often required to isolate the final conjugate from unwanted byproducts. As for fusion proteins, they often suffer from low solubility and yield. In this report, we describe a straightforward conjugation process to generate an immunotoxin using coassociating peptides (named K3 and E3), originating from the tetramerization domain of p53. To that end, a nanobody targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (nano-HER2) and a protein toxin fragment from Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (TOX) were genetically fused to the E3 and K3 peptides. Entities were produced separately in Escherichia coli in soluble forms and at high yields. The nano-HER2 fused to the E3 or K3 helixes (nano-HER2-E3 and nano-HER2-K3) and the coassembled immunotoxins (nano-HER2-K3E3-TOX and nano-HER2-E3K3-TOX) presented binding specificity on HER2-overexpressing cells with relative binding constants in the low nanomolar to picomolar range. Both toxin modules (E3-TOX and K3-TOX) and the combined immunotoxins exhibited similar cytotoxicity levels compared to the toxin alone (TOX). Finally, nano-HER2-K3E3-TOX and nano-HER2-E3K3-TOX evaluated on various breast cancer cells were highly potent and specific to killing HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells with IC50 values in the picomolar range. Altogether, we demonstrate that this noncovalent conjugation method using two coassembling peptides can be easily implemented for the modular engineering of immunotoxins targeting different types of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Stoessel
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR7242 Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie Strasbourg, F-67412 Illkirch, France
| | - Nadja Groysbeck
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR7242 Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie Strasbourg, F-67412 Illkirch, France
| | - Lucile Guyot
- IMPReSs Facility, Biotechnology and Cell Signaling, CNRS-University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, F-67412 Illkirch, France
- NovAliX, Bioparc, F-67405 Illkirch, France
| | - Lina Barret
- IMPReSs Facility, Biotechnology and Cell Signaling, CNRS-University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, F-67412 Illkirch, France
| | - Yves Nominé
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, F-67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Leonel Nguekeu-Zebaze
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR7242 Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie Strasbourg, F-67412 Illkirch, France
| | - Ambre Bender
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR7242 Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie Strasbourg, F-67412 Illkirch, France
| | - Laetitia Voilquin
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, F-67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Thomas Lutz
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR7242 Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie Strasbourg, F-67412 Illkirch, France
| | - Nikita Pallaoro
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR7242 Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie Strasbourg, F-67412 Illkirch, France
| | - Marie Blocat
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR7242 Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie Strasbourg, F-67412 Illkirch, France
| | - Celia Deville
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, F-67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Murielle Masson
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR7242 Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie Strasbourg, F-67412 Illkirch, France
| | - Guy Zuber
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR7242 Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie Strasbourg, F-67412 Illkirch, France
| | - Bruno Chatton
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR7242 Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie Strasbourg, F-67412 Illkirch, France
| | - Mariel Donzeau
- Université de Strasbourg, UMR7242 Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie Strasbourg, F-67412 Illkirch, France
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Santajit S, Seesuay W, Mahasongkram K, Sookrung N, Ampawong S, Reamtong O, Diraphat P, Chaicumpa W, Indrawattana N. Human single-chain antibodies that neutralize Pseudomonas aeruginosa-exotoxin A-mediated cellular apoptosis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14928. [PMID: 31624289 PMCID: PMC6797803 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51089-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting bacterial virulence factors directly provides a new paradigm for the intervention and treatment of bacterial diseases. Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces a myriad of virulence factors to cause fatal diseases in humans. In this study, human single-chain antibodies (HuscFvs) that bound to P. aeruginosa exotoxin A (ETA) were generated by phage display technology using recombinant ETA, ETA-subdomains and the synthetic peptide of the ETA-catalytic site as baits for selecting ETA-bound-phages from the human-scFv phage display library. ETA-bound HuscFvs derived from three phage-transfected E. coli clones neutralized the ETA-induced mammalian cell apoptosis. Computerized simulation demonstrated that these HuscFvs used several residues in their complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) to form contact interfaces with the critical residues in ETA-catalytic domain essential for ADP-ribosylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2, which should consequently rescue ETA-exposed-cells from apoptosis. The HuscFv-treated ETA-exposed cells also showed decremented apoptosis-related genes, i.e., cas3 and p53. The effective HuscFvs have high potential for future evaluation in animal models and clinical trials as a safe, novel remedy for the amelioration of exotoxin A-mediated pathogenesis. HuscFvs may be used either singly or in combination with the HuscFv cognates that target other P. aeruginosa virulence factors as an alternative therapeutic regime for difficult-to-treat infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirijan Santajit
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Watee Seesuay
- Center of Research Excellence on Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kodchakorn Mahasongkram
- Center of Research Excellence on Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nitat Sookrung
- Center of Research Excellence on Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Biomedical Research Incubator Unit, Department of Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sumate Ampawong
- Department of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Onrapak Reamtong
- Department of Tropical Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pornphan Diraphat
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wanpen Chaicumpa
- Center of Research Excellence on Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nitaya Indrawattana
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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Pirzer T, Becher KS, Rieker M, Meckel T, Mootz HD, Kolmar H. Generation of Potent Anti-HER1/2 Immunotoxins by Protein Ligation Using Split Inteins. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:2058-2066. [PMID: 29920062 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.8b00222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Cell targeting protein toxins have gained increasing interest for cancer therapy aimed at increasing the therapeutic window and reducing systemic toxicity. Because recombinant expression of immunotoxins consisting of a receptor-binding and a cell-killing moiety is hampered by their high toxicity in a eukaryotic production host, most applications rely on recombinant production of fusion proteins consisting of an antibody fragment and a protein toxin in bacterial hosts such as Escherichia coli ( E. coli). These fusions often lack beneficial properties of whole antibodies like extended serum half-life or efficient endocytic uptake via receptor clustering. Here, we describe the production of full-length antibody immunotoxins using self-splicing split inteins. To this end, the short (11 amino acids) N-terminal intein part of the artificially designed split intein M86, a derivative of the Ssp DnaB intein, was recombinantly fused to the heavy chain of trastuzumab, a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptor targeting antibody and to a nanobody-Fc fusion targeting the HER1 receptor, respectively. Both antibodies were produced in Expi293F cells. The longer C-terminal counterpart of the intein was genetically fused to the protein toxins gelonin or Pseudomonas Exotoxin A, respectively, and expressed in E. coli via fusion to maltose binding protein. Using optimized in vitro splicing conditions, we were able to generate a set of specific and potent immunotoxins with IC50 values in the mid- to subpicomolar range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Pirzer
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry , Technische Universität Darmstadt , Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4 , D-64287 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Kira-Sophie Becher
- Institute of Biochemistry , University of Münster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Straße 2 , D-48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Marcel Rieker
- Antibody Drug Conjugates and Targeted NBE Therapeutics , Merck KGaA , Frankfurter Straße 250 , D-64293 Darmstadt , Germany
- Protein Engineering and Antibody Technologies , Merck KGaA , Frankfurter Straße 250 , D-64293 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Tobias Meckel
- Macromolecular Chemistry & Paper Chemistry, Department of Chemistry , Technische Universität Darmstadt , Alarich-Weiss-Straße 8 , D-64287 Darmstadt , Germany
| | - Henning D Mootz
- Institute of Biochemistry , University of Münster , Wilhelm-Klemm-Straße 2 , D-48149 Münster , Germany
| | - Harald Kolmar
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry , Technische Universität Darmstadt , Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4 , D-64287 Darmstadt , Germany
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Liu W, Onda M, Kim C, Xiang L, Weldon JE, Lee B, Pastan I. A recombinant immunotoxin engineered for increased stability by adding a disulfide bond has decreased immunogenicity. Protein Eng Des Sel 2012; 25:1-6. [PMID: 22101015 PMCID: PMC3276307 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzr053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2011] [Revised: 10/06/2011] [Accepted: 10/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant immunotoxins (RITs) are anti-cancer agents that combine the Fv of an antibody against cancer cells with a protein toxin from bacteria or plants. Since RITs contain a non-human protein, immunogenicity can be an obstacle in their development. In this study, we have explored the hypothesis that increasing stability can reduce the immunogenicity of a RIT using HA22-LR, which is composed of an anti-CD22 Fv fused to domain III of Pseudomonas exotoxin A. We introduced a disulfide bond into domain III by identifying and mutating two structurally adjacent residues to cysteines at sites suggested by computer modeling. This RIT, HA22-LR-DB, displays a remarkable increase in thermal stability and an enhanced resistance to trypsin degradation. In addition, HA22-LR-DB retains cytotoxic and anti-tumor activity, while exhibiting significantly lower immunogenicity in mice. This study demonstrates that it is possible to design mutations in a protein molecule that will increase the stability of the protein and thereby reduce its immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhai Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA
| | - Masanori Onda
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA
| | - Changhoon Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA
- Present address: Bioinformatics & Molecular Design Research Center, Yonsei University, 262 Seongsanno, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749, Korea
| | - Laiman Xiang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA
| | - John E. Weldon
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA
| | - Byungkook Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA
| | - Ira Pastan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA
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Massey S, Quiñones B, Teter K. A cell-based fluorescent assay to detect the activity of Shiga toxin and other toxins that inhibit protein synthesis. Methods Mol Biol 2011; 739:49-59. [PMID: 21567317 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-102-4_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia coli O157:H7, a major cause of food-borne illness, produces Shiga toxins (Stxs) that block protein synthesis by inactivating the ribosome. In this chapter, we describe a simple cell-based fluorescent assay to detect Stxs and inhibitors of toxin activity. The assay can also be used to detect other plant and bacterial toxins that arrest protein synthesis.
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Su Y, Li SY, Ghosh S, Ortiz J, Hogge DE, Frankel AE. Characterization of variant diphtheria toxin-interleukin-3 fusion protein, DTIL3K116W, for phase I clinical trials. Biologicals 2009; 38:144-9. [PMID: 19783458 DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2009.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2009] [Revised: 08/17/2009] [Accepted: 08/18/2009] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We have produced clinical grade of DTIL3K116W, a variant diphtheria toxin-interleukin-3 fusion protein, for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. The product was filter sterilized, aseptically vialed, and stored at -80 degrees C. It was characterized by Coomassie-stained SDS-PAGE, endotoxin assay, cytotoxicity assay, sterility, mass spectroscopy, receptor binding affinity, ADP-ribosylation, inhibition of normal human CFU-GM, disulfide bond analysis, immunoblots, stability, size exclusion chromatography-HPLC, sequencing, and immunohistochemistry. Vialed product was sterile in 0.25 M NaCl/5 mM Tris, pH 7.9, and had a protein concentration of 1.08 mg/ml. Purity by SDS-PAGE was >99%. Aggregates by HPLC were <1%. Endotoxin levels were 0.296EU/mg. Peptide mapping and mass spectroscopy confirmed its composition and molecular weight. The vialed drug kept reactivity with anti-IL3 and DT antibodies. Potency study revealed a 48-h EC(50) of 0.5 pM on TF1/H-ras cell. Its binding properties were confirmed by competitive experiments showing IC(50) of 1.4 nM. ADP-ribosylation activity was equivalent to DTGM-CSF. Drug did not react with tested frozen human tissue sections by immunohistochemistry. There was no evidence of loss of solubility, proteolysis aggregation, or loss of potency over 6 months at -80 degrees C. Further, the drug was stable at 4 and 25 degrees C in the plastic syringe and administration tubing for 48 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunpeng Su
- Cancer Research Institute, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Temple, TX, USA.
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Novel cell-based method to detect Shiga toxin 2 from Escherichia coli O157:H7 and inhibitors of toxin activity. Appl Environ Microbiol 2009; 75:1410-6. [PMID: 19139230 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02230-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a leading cause of food-borne illness. This human pathogen produces Shiga toxins (Stx1 and Stx2) which inhibit protein synthesis by inactivating ribosome function. The present study describes a novel cell-based assay to detect Stx2 and inhibitors of toxin activity. A Vero cell line harboring a destabilized variant (half-life, 2 h) of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (d2EGFP) was used to monitor the toxin-induced inhibition of protein synthesis. This Vero-d2EGFP cell line produced a fluorescent signal which could be detected by microscopy or with a plate reader. However, a greatly attenuated fluorescent signal was detected in Vero-d2EGFP cells that had been incubated overnight with either purified Stx2 or a cell-free culture supernatant from Stx1- and Stx2-producing E. coli O157:H7. Dose-response curves demonstrated that the Stx2-induced inhibition of enhanced green fluorescent protein fluorescence mirrored the Stx2-induced inhibition of overall protein synthesis and identified a picogram-per-milliliter threshold for toxin detection. To establish our Vero-d2EGFP assay as a useful tool for the identification of toxin inhibitors, we screened a panel of plant compounds for antitoxin activities. Fluorescent signals were maintained when Vero-d2EGFP cells were exposed to Stx1- and Stx2-containing medium in the presence of either grape seed or grape pomace extract. The antitoxin properties of the grape extracts were confirmed with an independent toxicity assay that monitored the overall level of protein synthesis in cells treated with purified Stx2. These results indicate that the Vero-d2EGFP fluorescence assay is an accurate and sensitive method to detect Stx2 activity and can be utilized to identify toxin inhibitors.
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